# NTSB MKC81DCD15: Piper PA-38, N2388D, Moulton, IA, April 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 15, 1981
- Place: Moulton, IA · MOULTON, IA
- Location: 40.6855° N, 92.6763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Moulton, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6855&lon=-92.6763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81DCD15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81DCD15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0455  81/4/15    MOULTON,IA          PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 84 TOTAL
        TIME - 1410                    N2388D              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MOULTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MOULTON,IA                  CENTERVILLE,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          135                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT SAID WND BLEW ACFT OF SIDE OF RWY,L WING HIT TREE,WND GSTG 20KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2388D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2388D-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N 38-79A0292 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Moulton

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810415018159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810415018159A), Apr 15, 1981: Piper PA38112, Moulton, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted takeoff from short, soft runway. Hit tree and crashed in adjacent field.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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